How To Teach Malamutes To Pull A Scooter

Scootering With Your Dog - Make Mine Malamute

As if the rollerblading experience had not been enough (see my link to that episode), I still looked forward with glee and I mean real glee to training the malamutes to pull me on the Diggler scooter that I ordered. However, I did have a somewhat better idea of the vulnerability of being towed behind sheer brawn and never did take that for granted again. Who says you can't teach any old dog (or old lady) new tricks?

The scooter experience with malamutes or any high energy dog is a
great one. I did do that long enough to experience the pure joy of being
pulled along faster than the speed of light (again) and having the dogs
completely get "into" it. I trained them for weeks a bit at a time in
this instance. The trick is making sure that they understand the
commands and they do not become distracted by a squirrel or a cat! We
had many episodes where we literally were being pulled through someone's
front yard or up into a driveway we had no intention of visiting simply
because they became distracted by said small animals and were in hot
pursuit! Having specific commands for them really helps in any situation
and pretty much to a fault, they were marvelous - though again - with
malamutes - distraction is always a problem!

Scooter Training - From First Day To Now

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Oh boy, oh boy - when do we get to run?

The scooter itself is a better deal than whirring down the road on
rollerblades I do have to say. However, there is a great deal of
vulnerability to it as well since an urban scooter used for what they
refer to now as "urban mushing" is usually just a giant skateboard with a
very large wheel in front, another large wheel in back, and some
handlebars with brakes. At least in this instance, I DID have brakes!
That was a plus. There are other variations as well.

However, true to my form and in keeping with holding the title as the
Queen of Klutz, I did in fact "go down with the scooter" and that was
very frightening if not life changing. I had just hooked them up and was
whipping out of the driveway with Bob in the lead on a bike (we did
finally partner up on this and I got the message that it would be a good
idea for support staff). The dogs cranked it up to their usual, about
20-25 mph and I somehow lost my balance. Why? Because I was fooling
around with the water bottle at my waist that was slipping and rather
than just "let it go", I took a hand off the handlebars. That was enough
to apparently upset the delicate balance of woman being towed by
beasts; I felt the scooter start to tilt, tried to right it, to no
avail, and then decided I'd just jump off and start over. Well, too bad
for that theory as when I jumped off, the handlebars hit me in the back
and somehow knocked me prone onto the street - where I sustained a nice
case of whiplash and road-rash all in about 3 seconds! Along with a very
big dose of humble pie! So much for my athletic abilities (again). How
did THIS happen I remember thinking?

I learned the hard way that the scootering requires a certain amount
of athleticism - at least this style scooter does! There was also the
small problem that you have to remain ON the scooter at all times
(falling into the street like a beached whale obviously proved this
point). You actually cannot step OFF the scooter at any time with the
aforementioned dogs attached out in front of you because there is
sufficient torque to equal at least 200 pounds. If you DO step off the
scooter, it pitches the scooter forward and the whole skateboard
apparatus basically comes up and slaps your entire leg in the back. I
spent many weeks learning never to step off the scooter with the dogs
attached - and many weeks sporting quite a few interesting bruises up
the backs of one or both legs!

You basically harness your dogs up and connect them to a towline,
which you in turn connect to the neck of the scooter (never the
handlebars). You are then being pulled along much like sledding with how
many dogs you have hooked on to the towline by their own line. I also
ran them with a chin strap on (not on me but on them) to keep them
"connected" at about collar level. Our female did not quite want to run
as steadily as our male and without hooking their collars together with
the chin strap, Kodi ended up forcibly pulling Denaya along, which can
be dangerous as well. It was a technique that kept her honest and
"encouraged" her to keep the pace.

The important thing to note here is that if the dogs decide to "giddy
up", you are going to be motoring again at mach 1! It is a totally
great feeling though. Swinging out the first time when we went around a
corner made me remember water skiing and miss it. One drawback though is
if you need to turn around and there is only 1 way in as in a
cul-de-sac or a narrow dead end street, much like a sled, unless you
have taught them to back up (I did not of course until faced with the
problem), you have to physically turn the whole mess around to include
you, the dogs, the scooter and lines, get them straightened out and
start again. Hopefully you can do it all before any distraction happens
by!

Another important point as I demonstrated personally just to see if
it worked - there is no way to reach out and "disconnect" from the dogs
so if something goes wrong or if the scooter goes down, you are probably
going with it. For the most part, it was pretty smooth sailing but one
problem I encountered repeatedly was having dogs run at us or after us.
If we just walk our dogs, we don't get too much aggression or dogs
following us so much. However, when we fly by on the scooter this
somehow makes other dogs really mad - or jealous! At one time, I have
had 4 dogs chasing me or coming at us from both sides. I have had dogs
run in while my dogs passed and get between my dogs, causing us to have
to stop on a dime. These are usually little tiny dogs that should have
some sense about what they are doing but don't. They have almost caused a
serious accident in the process as all of us could have wound up in a
collision. Not to mention annoying my dogs to no end as all they wanted
to do was keep running. Having people's loose nipping dogs charge into
you on the street is not a good ride and in all instances, every bit of
trouble we have had involved other people's dogs. Thankfully the only
mishap for us humans we encountered there was slamming on the brakes so
hard that the front tire literally popped right off and the ride was
definitely "over" for that session.

The ideal is to be able to run your dogs where there are few such
distractions! Luckily, my dogs know the command "leave it" and they
never disengaged from their purpose which was just the running. They
never disengaged physically from their harnesses, which they could
easily have done with the sledding type we use. They are always more
concerned about hiking back up to speed than dallying with loose dogs
(thankfully), no matter how "tasty" they might appear as little morsels!

Having the proper safety gear again is paramount to a good
experience, and in the above-mentioned instance where I fell off, on the
way through the whiplash, I actually banged my forehead on the ground.
The helmet I was wearing definitely saved my brain if not my life! I had
a dent where I hit the ground so I know that the impact was as bad as I
thought it was! The pads saved me some wear and tear on my elbows and
knees but unfortunately my legs and my hands were a nasty mess. The
whiplash was also not pleasant to recover from and the damage to the
scooter was terrible! Even knowing the commands, they did not stop
although I'm not sure if the word I used when I fell was WHOA. It could
have been something quite foreign to them! At any rate, they kept
running for perhaps 1/4 mile and the scooter was in tow behind them
(much to my dismay) bouncing and banging the entire way.

We did decide after that little bounce on the pavement of life to
always stay together so that whoever was riding the scooter had the
"spotter" closer by in case something went wrong. That person rides a
bike while the other rides the dogs on the scooter. At least that way,
one of us is always looking out for dogs that could potentially be a
problem and the rider then has a modicum of protection or someone who
can at least render back-up if there was a crash or trouble of any kind.
It also helps assure that someone is able to get help if the rider
happens to be lying on the side of the road! The bike rider always gets
the phone!

Always carry a cell phone and always wear total body clothing as the
skin you save may be your own! I have ridden with my glasses on in the
rain and would not recommend that particular ensemble - unless your
glasses have windshield wipers! As well, riding the few times that I did
in slick conditions was a little unnerving as the scooter tended to
really have some "sway" to it - as in sideways as well as forward
motion. In retrospect, I'm surprised I made it safely back in those
particular conditions. In the rainy conditions, the dogs were soaked to
the skin and while they did not seem to mind it, it was a little
encumbering to be scootering with what felt like 800 pounds of wet
clothes on - and blind as a bat.

All in all though, I would rate the experience as a 10! Except for
the falling part! We are currently training little Griffin to pull but
he will not be able to add any appreciable weight to his pull until at
least 8 months or so. For now, it is just the exercise of pulling and
getting used to the chin strap holding him to Denaya, now boss dog, the
towline and the commands. And for right now, no one (including me) can
get into an accident (probably) just walking them through the commands!
The training beforehand though is definitely worth it for it to be a
positive for all concerned!

Checklist For Dog Scootering

Do invest in a good, solid scooter made for scootering with dogs

Do invest in good protective equipment, primarily the best helmet you can afford

Do invest in elbow pads, knee pads and wrist guards - it is worth it if you fall

Do check to make sure your health insurance is up to date

Do know where the local ER or clinic is just in case

Do be aware that scootering with any dog(s) can be an extreme sport

Do enjoy it if you have the courage to try it because it is a wonderful sport!

Do train your dog(s) before you attempt to take off with them by spending lots of time drilling on commands just walking behind them and make sure that they commands

Do try to have a spotter with you or at the very least scooter where there are other people available in case of a mishap/crash

Do carry a cell phone if you are alone; if you have a spotter, give them the phone

Do stay on the scooter firmly at all times when dogs are attached - stepping off may be hazardous to the backs of your legs

Do try and be aware of your surroundings, watching out for cars, obstacles, the occasional squirrels, cats, or dogs

Do try and avoid scootering in the rain and if you must, dress appropriately

Do research this sport as any other sport to optimize your enjoyment

Do listen to the peacefulness of the moment - it is priceless

The Real Deal - This is Us!

This Scooter Looks Less Dangerous For People Like Me

The New Rave

Let's See If We Can Hit Mach 1

Diggler Scooters and Supplies

Diggler - Dog Scooters & Scootering AccessoriesDiggler is The ORIGINAL Mountain Scooter. From the top of America's premier ski resorts to your neighborhood trails, paths, and playgrounds, Diggler has the scooter for you! Since 1996, Diggler has been developing and pioneering this new adventure ca

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Comments

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Author

Audrey Kirchner 5 years agofrom Central Oregon

But be aware the power scooter isn't for every breed of dog and there are some weight limitations!

mark schuette 5 years ago

hi Folks- here's a safer and more practical method of mushing for us urban dwellers- its mushing you CAN do in the city and go on busy downtown sidewalks to the coffee shop ! or wider easy single track dirt

WWW.DOGPOWEREDSCOOTER.COM

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Author

Audrey Kirchner 7 years agofrom Central Oregon

Thanks - can you tell they are kinda sorta my life? Thanks for stopping by. Audrey

Martin V 7 years ago

great hub! thanks for sharing!

Author

Audrey Kirchner 7 years agofrom Central Oregon

That's amazing though - pulling on any level is such great exercise for them and I think they feel "useful". With the mals, it just got to be a joke to keep them "busy" and since we happen to have fallen in dog love with them...oh well - I bounce well! But stay tuned - I have another idea in mind that for me anyhow will be safer!

ralwus 7 years ago

Wow, you are something! I would not dare do that even with a spotter, not at my age, no siree. I have trained my Basset Hound, Boregard, to pull firewood on my sled and me also in the snow. He loves it. He has helped me to pull brush also. I have two of his pups in training now and they all know the commands pretty well, like draft horses and they love it. They are like little bulldozers, powerful and they're pretty fast too when they want to be. Cool hub dear. Now you be safe, ya hear? CC

Author

Audrey Kirchner 7 years agofrom Central Oregon

Too bad I started it at age 48 or 49 - but oh well! There's always the Senior Iditarod is my hope and dream! I do have plans for the future to do it again - or at least be the spotter this time and next chapter coming up on CARTING - now there's something I might be able to cope with and not kill myself!

Zsuzsy Bee 7 years agofrom Ontario/Canada

This is absolutely awesome. Isn't it just remarkable how much dogs love chores.